The butterflies have been out of this world this year. So so many of them!!! If you notice this Giant Swallowtail flying around your citrus plants, pay attention to what this butterfly is doing.
It's laying eggs on the leaves which the caterpillars love to eat.
These pics were taken at El Presidio. They will look like they're killing your plant, but they're not:) The leaves will be chomped down to the nub and will grow back later.
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| Giant Swallowtail |
They grab your attention(like they did me) and hold us captivated for many a long moment. It's hard to have a conversation with another person when this butterfly is flying around the garden.
So if you notice bird droppings that look like this....
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| These photos were taken by me before I watermarked them. They're right out of El Presidio. |
or this......
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| Swallowtail Caterpillar |
or this, don't stress. They'll grow up to be beautiful butterflies. More tomorrow.....
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It's great to see these. I never tire of watching wild life....even better when someone puts all the effort in for me.
ReplyDeleteThe Swallowtail is awesome, and great photos.
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteHow lucky you are to see the beautiful Giant Swallowtail.We don't see them here,or next year I would be out looking for both the butterfly and caterpillers that look like bird droppings!! Fantastic captures of both!!
We have lots of swallowtails, but they have different designs than that one! But the larvae are similar, bird droppings!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of a beautiful butterfly and fascinating to see what the caterpillar looks like :)
ReplyDeleteVery nice to see the different stages of the butterfly.
ReplyDeleteIt always fascinates me that such beautiful butterflies come from such ugly grubs. Super shots Chris.
ReplyDeleteWe also had an abundance of swallowtails this spring and summer! They are such beauties!
ReplyDeleteand who doesn't love a swallowtail? :) love their caterpillars.
ReplyDeleteThese are lovely images of a swallowtail and part of its metamorphosis and Life-cycle. Glad you have the patience to follow through.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful butterflies and great shots of the caterpillars or larvae; they are so different.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos and great info to help me look for the larvae. The monarch gets a lot of press and they are beautiful, but the swallowtail is my personal favorite.
ReplyDeleteThose caterpillars look rather scary.
ReplyDeleteOhhhh I love those little sluggy bugs. Cool shots!!
ReplyDeleteThe butterfly is pretty neat too. Very pretty.
Lovely! we are just coming into summer and butterfly season....
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult to take a shot of flying butterfly, but your pictures are amazing!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome process!!! Every once in a while I see a large swallowtail in my backyard, and when I do I feel blessed!!!
ReplyDeleteSo gorgeous, you would never know that's how they would turn out from such an unattractive larvae. Nature loves a grand finale!
ReplyDeleteYears ago when I worked in a plant nursery, I hated when these guys would fall on my shoulder or arm! Scare me to death.
ReplyDeleteWonders of transformation...
ReplyDeletecool shots
xoxo, Juliana
[pjhappies.blogspot.com]
Your blog is amazing! I wish I had found it sooner (well, technically we have TexWis Girl to thank for YOU finding ME!) I am learning so much about the flora and fauna of my new home region! Thank you for your beautiful photographs and all this great information! Oh, Kathie contacted me and said we'll be able to get together soon. I am so glad she moved back, and I am looking forward to meeting her! Maybe we can meet some time as well.
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